The single most common FMP mistake is chronological: getting care abroad first and discovering the program second. Registration costs nothing, requires no travel plans, and produces the one document that makes everything downstream easier — your benefits authorization letter.
What registration actually does
Registering doesn’t commit you to anything. It puts you in the FMP system so that when care happens — planned surgery in Medellín or an emergency in Madrid — claims process against an existing profile instead of starting cold. VA is explicit: register before filing claims to avoid payment delays.
Once processed, you receive a benefits authorization letter listing the service-connected conditions you’re covered for abroad. That letter is your scope of coverage in black and white. Read it carefully: care for anything not on it is care FMP won’t pay for, full stop.
How to file
- Online: VA’s FMP registration page accepts online registration — the fastest path.
- Fax: VA Form 10-7959f-1 to 303-331-7803.
- Mail: VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care, ATTN: Foreign Medical Program, PO Box 200, Spring City, PA 19475.
While you’re at it, set up direct deposit for reimbursements — VA pays FMP claims electronically to U.S. bank accounts, and you can confirm your profile is configured by sending an Ask VA request to the FMP escalation team. No more paper checks chasing you across continents.
What to have ready
- Your VA disability rating information — know your rated conditions and combined rating.
- A verified Login.gov or ID.me account. You’ll need it for online claims later anyway; create it now.
- Your U.S. bank details for direct deposit.
- A foreign address if you live abroad — travelers can register from a U.S. address.
After the letter arrives: read it like a contract
Your authorization letter defines the battlefield. If your rated conditions include, say, a right-knee condition and lumbar strain, then knee and lumbar care abroad can be covered — but the left shoulder you never claimed isn’t. If a condition worsened or a new one should be service-connected, that’s a disability claim to pursue with VA before counting on FMP coverage for it.
The Colombia-specific note
Colombian private hospitals are used to international patients, and the good ones produce exactly the paperwork FMP adjudicators need — itemized billing and physician notes — in Spanish, which VA translates after submission. When we connect veterans with Medellín providers through Colombia Medical, the FMP paperwork conversation happens with the clinic before treatment, not after. That’s the advantage of a facilitator who lives here.
Want a human to walk you through it?
Send us your rated condition and what you’re waiting on. We’ll give you an honest read on FMP fit, the predetermination step, and which Medellín providers make sense — and if the answer is “this won’t be covered,” we’ll say exactly that. Operated in person from Medellín via Colombia Medical.
Check my FMP fitFrequently asked questions
Do I have to live abroad to register for the FMP?
No. FMP covers veterans living or traveling outside the U.S. You can register from a U.S. address before a planned medical trip - and VA encourages registering before you need care.
How do I know which conditions the FMP will cover for me?
Your benefits authorization letter, issued after registration, lists the service-connected conditions you're covered for abroad. Care must be medically necessary for a listed condition or one VA holds to be aggravating it.
Is there any cost to register?
No. Registration is free, doesn't obligate you to use the program, and exists precisely so claims process smoothly when you do.
Can I register if my disability rating is 0%?
A 0% rating is still a service-connected rating. Whether specific care is covered depends on medical necessity for that rated condition - request a predetermination through Ask VA for your specific situation before traveling.
Sources: VA.gov — FMP Registration and Overview pages · VA News (2025): FMP direct deposit; (2026): online claim filing · VA Community Care — FMP provider information (contacts, fax, mailing address). Informational only — not medical, legal, or benefits advice. Confirm coverage directly with VA before receiving or paying for care abroad.